Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to strengthen institutional linkages to promote cultural exchange, people-to-people contact through media APP ISLAMABAD:- Pakistan and Uzbekistan have discussed to strengthen institutional linkages to promote cultural exchange and people-to-people contact through media. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev held a meeting here in Islamabad, APP reported on Monday.

“Pakistan values its partnership with Uzbekistan and is committed to turning shared ideas into tangible results for both countries”, In a post on X, Tarar said.

The minister said both sides discussed ways to boost cooperation in media, cinema and cultural exchanges, including potential joint productions and digital collaboration.

The discussion focused on strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in film production including cooperative short films, documentaries and drama series, the report stated.

“The ambassador appreciated Pakistan’s contribution in the promotion of peace in the region and efforts made by Islamabad for peace-related initiatives and negotiations,” APP said.

Pakistan, he said, pays significant value to its relations with Uzbekistan and is willing to further enhance cooperation in the fields of media, cinema and culture.

He said such initiatives would need the participation of established production houses and large scale film projects might be initiated through collaborative financial agreements between the two countries.

The minister highlighted the need to promote joint media content on the common historical and cultural legacy of Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

“Both sides agreed to improve co-ordination between their respective social media teams for development of joint digital content and co-ordinated online promotional strategy,” the APP report said.

It was also agreed to improve collaboration between the media organisations of the two countries.

The exchange of study tours of journalists of both sides will enhance mutual understanding and professional exchange, the minister added.

Singer Falak Shabir’s wife and actor Sarah Khan shared her views on what feminism meant to her and also backed her husband’s comments on the dressing of women on social media.

Khan’s comments, however, elicited a mixed response online. “Make a law against those who wear short dresses in public places, bazaars and streets.” This statement put TikTokker Shabir in an internet controversy after he asked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to do so.

In reaction to the backlash, Khan defended her husband with a number of Instagram stories, saying his words were not just aimed at women, but both genders.

She also accused some women in Pakistan of propagating a twisted form of feminism.

“Values, dignity, respect and responsibility are the pillars of a healthy society. Khan wrote: “Behaviour that undermines these principles is affecting not just one group but everyone – and it has been normalised and celebrated.

Old prices continued losses on Monday as expectations of a US rate hike grew after a solid jobs data, while ongoing conflicts in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher and fuelled inflation concerns.

Spot gold dropped 0.4% to $4,313.11 an ounce by 0302 GMT. Prices plummeted almost 3% on Friday to the lowest level since March 24.

U.S. gold futures for August delivery fell 0.7% to $4,336.30.It is all based on the hawkishness that the market has started to put on the Fed futures,” said Kelvin Wong, senior market analyst at OANDA, adding that higher Treasury yields were putting further pressure on gold.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield climbed after spiking to a two-week high in the previous session, raising the opportunity cost of keeping non-yielding metal.

Israel said it hit military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, even as U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on any strikes.

Fuelling fears of higher inflation and interest rates, oil prices surged by more than $3 a barrel.

Gold is viewed as a hedge against inflation, but increasing interest rates tend to press the non-yielding metal.

The U.S. economy created a solid number of jobs for a third straight month in May, suggesting the labour market was gaining steam after floundering last year and providing the central bank greater leeway to keep rates stable amid inflation rising due to the Iran war.

“The new jobs number showed the labour market is roughly in balance and near full employment,” Fed President Beth Hammack of Cleveland said Friday, adding that ongoing high inflation may mean the Fed would have to hike rates soon to curb it.

Spot silver declined 0.4% to $67.56 an ounce, platinum eased 0.5% to $1,767.15 and palladium was unchanged at $1,225.66.